The Louisiana Democrat. [volume] (Alexandria, La.) 1845-1918, 1887-10-26
THE LOST RECORDS.
TAX COLLECTOR CAyaNAc RECEIVERS
MISSING TAX ROLLS.
The Auditor Johnson's Record Steal Re-
vived Again - Interview with Mr..
George Koppel on the Subject.

HSeu Again - interview with Mr.
George Koppel on the Subject.
New Orleans Times Democrat
During the era of Republican regime in
this State George johnson was the Auditor
and when he disappeared from this city an
Investigation of his Office revealed the fact
that large number Of the State records per-
tanning to his Office We're missing and among
them were the rolls OF delinquent taxpayers
for the years 1870, 1871, 1872, 1873,
1874 and 1875.
The opinion WAS freely expressed at that
time that Johnson had spirited the records
away in order to prevent the discovery
Of certain Irregularities, and rs this
fact grew in credence officers were
placed on the. case, but it was a long
the tax rolls never were. found, until the
whereabouts Of some of them were brought
to light by Mr.. Charles Cavanac, the pre- emit
tax collector of the lower districts, and Can't.
Lem Davis, now commanding the Fifth Sta
ton.
he zeal Of Mr.; Cavanac and Capt. Davis
has resulted in the recovery Of copies Of
deilnquent tax rolls tor Allgiers for 1870,
1871, 1872 and 1874 and q mill tax roll
for 1871. and with fair prospects of getting
those OF the other years. Mr.. Cavanac re-
ceived information that some of them were
IN the possession Of certain persons residing
Ill Algiers.
MIR. Cavanac impaired his information to
strncted MIR. j. @. Noise, his assistant, to
make aflidayits against the parties having the
rolls in their possession. as they were the
property of the State.
When Mr.. Noise visited Judge Sambola il
was concluded not to make atfidayits against
the persons in whose possession the rolls
We're, but to send Capt. Lem Davis, who
had al one time commanded the district and
make demand FOR the States property.
| Saturday night Sergeant Lem Davis
| crossed over to Algiers and recovered the
books containing the names Of delinquent
taxpayers for the they years nr 1872 and 1874
turned over to Mr.. Cavanac.
The majority OF the records were in the
possession Of Mrs. Redmond, the widow Of
an ex-tax collector, and the balance were at
benss o e sss k0pB e sd n 1885, 4 S
| 1873 and 1875 are still missing.
Mr.. Cayanac stated that the first intimation
he had Of the existence of these rolls was that
a taxpayer residing in Algiers came to his
he had paid his taxes for 1872 anu 1874,
aud the certificate read from the original
rolls in the tax collectors Office" Mr.. Cav
anac, knowing the original rolls were miss
|
nation as justified him in laying the matter
before the Attorney General. with the result
above stated.
| Speaking of the value OF these rolls, Mr..
Gavanac said: THE advantage OF having
the rolls in our possession is that we, can tell
| exactly who has been credited for the back
taxes that have been paid and if any altera.
tions have been made on the rolls
Mr.. Gavanae Said johnson deceived him
| eOma nne else and said thar SCI T would
have few articles published in the papers,
Calling for an investigation by the Grand
Jury, he, johnson, would tell all he knew.
), Several articles appeared in the, papers;
when Mr.. johnson came before that body he
was silent, and nothing could be learned
from him.: Tho recovery of these rolls and
copies will save 9 good many people from
back taxes should go to the mortgage office
and have the mortgage inscriptions against
their property erased. Many neglect this,
and, in consequence, should the records in
the tax office be lost and the taxpayer should
have lost his receipts, he would have to pay
again. In making new records for those that
/ we're missing We gave credit wherever the
cancellation had been made. Those who had
lost their receipts and the cancellation had
not been made, had to pay twice.
THE recovery of these rolls will save
large number of persons from paying twice,
but the cases will have to be passed upon
first, as it is impossible to say whether these
rolls have been tampered with or not. ac-
quit Mrs Redmond of all bad motives in the
possession of these books. | don't think
she knew anything about the matter. But
he original parties who committed tho
theft, their motive is very clear. The rec.
slips Of james Koppel and H. J: Redmond,
feet that certain taxes appeared paid on the
original rolls, through which affidavit got
tInn rhny.,n t,rnrpk o
was signed by Geo. koppei, a son OF J. koppel,
When called to account for his knowledge Of
the theft he said he had suppressed the fact
OF their being IN his possession to save the
honor OF his ,ather., AS yet nothing has
upon his father. What may transpire re-
mains to be seen.
''We have two receipts which are very COM
promising to Redmond. One is a receipt
given to Geo. Smith, and signed Redmond, >
for delinquent taxes on certain property.
The enbry against that property on the re-
covered rolls reads time extended.' The
o'her is .p a receipt given Mary 4! :, Bennett,
property entered in the name of Victor His
toros. The rec ipt is for So, and the recov-
cred rolls show an entry for "a 80, with no
credit for payment."'
MR. GEORGE KoPpEL,
son of the, tax collector. spoken Of, was in-
teryiewed by. q TlIEs- DEMOCRAT reporter.
. VIC iOlOWllB tCllltlts - ..r.ts.-
I '.ihe, statements published about tax
books stolen, etc, do my father and myself
gross injustice In the statement that the
books were, stolen, that they were tempered
with. or that any OF his receipts indicate
in the first place my father went out Of
! Office two years before Johnson was Auditor
or the end of the Republican regime, and
the only books in his possession were copies
OF the original rolls, which he returned to
the Auditor when he retired from office
These copies have always remained in our
house from the time they were brought there
iii 1873. and as they were my fathers pri-
vate p Operty were never called for by the
the year 1874, when he retired from Office,
and two years before johnson claimed that
his books were stolen. Lately q number Of
Algeline properties have been advertised for
saie for taxes Of those years, and the owners
coming to me hunted up these old ists and
found some we've marked paid on them, and
gave them certificate 70 that effect
Mrs. Redmond, the wife Of the Republican
tax collector who served the two years after
my father, came to me with some Of the books
that she had found in her house, and upon
examination advised her to bling them to
| MIR. Gayanac, md u few days later called on
him and explained what books had and how
they were in my possession. He stated that
it would benefit the Algie.s people, and I
volunteered to turn over all the books had
and brought them to him the next dsy.
requested, and MIR. Cavanac promised, that
til y should at all times be open to the in
spect:on of the Algiers people.
''My father being connected with party
in power at that time that was obnoxious to
the better class OF people, it might appear
that he was tainted with its dishonesty, but
with these old rolls can prove that there
never WAS q receipt for taxes issued from his
Office bnt what was marked paid on the org
inal rolls (Which johnson made away witty,
aid on til &c copies, and that all such ia xea
we're turned in to the State Treasurer at that
time, for which can show receipts gwen to
my father
'Jhcre never was any theft of these books,
nor could there ever be theft that the States
could connect his hume " tn.
BY publish ng III YOU will greatly oblige.
Yours Very respectfully,
t.{,copnr Koppr, >,